Wittem (Dutch: [ˈʋɪtəm], Limburgish: [ˈwɪtəm]) is a small village in the Dutch province of Limburg. It is located in the municipality of Gulpen-Wittem.

Wittem
Village
Monastery at Wittem
Monastery at Wittem
Wittem is located in Netherlands
Wittem
Wittem
Location in the Netherlands
Wittem is located in Limburg, Netherlands
Wittem
Wittem
Location in the province of Limburg in the Netherlands
Coordinates: 50°49′N 5°55′E / 50.817°N 5.917°E / 50.817; 5.917
CountryNetherlands
ProvinceLimburg
MunicipalityGulpen-Wittem
Area
 • Total0.94 km2 (0.36 sq mi)
Elevation93 m (305 ft)
Population
 (2021)[1]
 • Total730
 • Density780/km2 (2,000/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC 1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC 2 (CEST)
Postal code
6286[1]
Dialing code043

History

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The village was first mentioned in 1125 as Witham, and means "silted land in a bend in a waterway".[3] Wittem developed in the Early Middle Ages. In the 13th century, a castle was built near the confluence of the Selzerbeek with the Geul. It used to be a free heerlijkheid (=no fief), but was bought by Ferdinand Adolph von Plettenberg in 1722 and elevated to barony in 1732.[4]

Wittem Castle is surrounded by two moats. The tower and southern wing date from the 13th century. The west wing was added in the 15th century. In 1569, it was damaged by Spanish troops. The southern wing was extended around 1700. In 1968, the castle was restored and converted into a hotel-restaurant.[4]

The Catholic St Alphonsus of Liguori and Johannes Nepomuk Church was built between 1729 and 1733. Between 1845 and 1847, a chapel was added to the south-west side.[4]

Wittem was home to 130 people in 1840.[5] It was a separate municipality until 1999, when it merged with Gulpen.[6]

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2021". Central Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 24 April 2022. combined with Partij-Witten
  2. ^ "Postcodetool for 6286AA". Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland (in Dutch). Het Waterschapshuis. 24 July 2019. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  3. ^ "Wittem - (geografische naam)". Etymologiebank (in Dutch). Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  4. ^ a b c Sabine Broekhoven, & Ronald Stenvert (2003). Wittem (in Dutch). Zwolle: Waanders. ISBN 90-400-9623-6. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  5. ^ "Wittem". Plaatsengids (in Dutch). Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  6. ^ Ad van der Meer and Onno Boonstra, Repertorium van Nederlandse gemeenten, KNAW, 2011.
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  •   Media related to Wittem at Wikimedia Commons